UBCNews - Business - Fall Tree Care Tips For New Jersey Homeowners: Avoid These Trimming Mistakes

Episode Date: November 15, 2025

Hey everyone! You know what's fascinating? Most homeowners I talk to are absolutely stumped - pun intended - about when to trim their trees. And today, we've got a real treat. We're joined by an expert arborist who's gonna help us crack this mystery once and for all. Sage Landscape Contractors and Tree Experts City: Plainfield Address: 16 Driftway Ln Website: https://www.sagelandscaping.com/

Hey everyone. You know what's fascinating? Most homeowners I talk to are absolutely stumped, pun intended, about when to trim their trees. And today, we've got a real treat. We're joined by an expert arborist who's going to help us crack this mystery once and for all. Thanks for having me. And that was a pretty good pun there. You know, I love talking about this because there's so much confusion about fall tree trimming, especially here in New Jersey. Before we start, I've got to ask, what's the biggest mistake you see homeowners make with tree trimming? Oh man, where do I start? The biggest one has to be timing. You know, people see those first leaves starting to turn and think, oh, perfect time to trim. But actually, early fall trimming can be really problematic. Really, why's that? Well, here's the thing. If you trim too early in fall while leaves are still on the branches, you can actually stimulate new growth. at exactly the wrong time. Think about it. The trees should be preparing for dormancy, but instead it's trying to produce new shoots that'll be super vulnerable to that first frost. Hmm, that makes a ton of sense. So when's the

sweet spot for trimming? Late fall is your best bet right after the leaves have dropped. The trees are entering their dormancy period, which means they'll experience significantly less stress from pruning. Plus without all those leaves in the way, you can actually see the tree structure better. You've hit the nail on the head there. I imagine different tree species have different needs, though, right? Absolutely. You know, New Jersey's common species like maples, oaks, and birches

typically respond really well to fall pruning. But flowering trees are a different keg of fish entirely. They often prefer spring care. Have you ever noticed how some trees seem to bleed sap when pruned at the wrong time. That's a great point. We'll come back to that in just a moment, but first, a quick word from our sponsor.

This episode is brought to you by Sage Tree Experts, a division of Sage Landscape Contractors serving the entire Central New Jersey for over 40 years. Founded by Ed Sage Thur, a Rutgers-trained architect, Sage offers tree care services, including pruning, removal, and disease control. For your trees, trust the professionals. at sagetree-experts.com to learn more.

And we're back. You were talking about sap bleeding. Tell us more about that. Right. During dormancy, there's reduced sap flow, which makes it much easier to make clean cuts without excessive bleeding. This is particularly important for species like maples that can lose a lot of sap when pruned during active periods. I understand proper trimming also helps with pest prevention, right?

Oh, yeah, especially regarding saps. You know, a lot of people don't realize that old tree stumps are like five-star hotels for termites. These wood-destroying insects love to set up colonies in decaying stumps and can then spread to nearby wooden structures. That's pretty scary. What kind of damage are we talking about? We're talking potentially thousands of dollars in structural damage to homes. Termites can create colonies in these stumps and then travel up to 100 meters searching for food. Ever tapped on wood and heard a hollow sound?

That's often a sign of termite damage. Yikes, so what's the solution there? Professional stump removal is really your best bet. You've got two main options. Complete removal of the stump and root system or stump grinding, where we use specialized equipment to break down the stump below ground level.

What about seasonal maintenance? Any tips for our listeners as we head into fall? Definitely. think of it as a three-pronged approach, proper watering, strategic fertilization, and mulching. You want to keep watering through fall just less frequently than summer. And here's a pro tip. Deep, less frequent watering works better than light, frequent applications. Makes sense.

And fertilizer? Yeah, but you want to be careful here. Use slow-release fertilizers in early fall. They're perfect for supporting root growth and nutrient storage without stimulating unwanted top growth. Avoid those high nitrogen fertilizers late in the season. For everyone listening who might be thinking about tackling this themselves, any words of caution. Listen, I totally understand wanting to DIY, but tree work can be really dangerous. You're dealing with heavy equipment, working at heights, and making cuts that could affect your tree's long-term health. Plus,

there's always the risk of property damage or injury if things go wrong. Great advice. Before we wrap up, where can our listeners learn more? They can visit sagetree-experts.com for professional tree care services and expert advice. Whether it's trimming, removal, or just a consultation, it's always better to be safe than sorry with your trees. Fantastic conversation today. Thanks for sharing all this valuable information with our listeners. Thanks for having me. Remember everyone, when in doubt, late fall is usually your friend for tree trimming. Just make sure those leaves have dropped first.